Remotely adjustable rearview mirror



Dec. 29, 1953 v R. L. HIGGINS 2,664,029

REMOTELY ADJUSTABLE REARvIRw MIRROR Filed April 7, 1951 s sheets-sheet 1 R. L. HIGGINS REMOTRLY ADJUSTABLE REARVIEW MIRROR Dec. 29, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 7, 1951 Snvento R. L. HIGGINS REMOTELY ADJUSTABLE REARVIEW MIRROR Dec. 29, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 7, 1951 Patented Dec. 29, 1953 UNITED smi-es eA-remi orifice fR-EMGTELY VtADJUS'.IAR'Lls:k REA-RVIEW MIRROR Richard L. Higgins, Detroit, Mich. 'Application Aprl 7, 1951, SerialNo. 219,833

r2: claims. 1

This invention relates to vehiclelrear'view vi'nir- 1 rors and, in particular, tofadjustable rear. view mirrors.

One 'object of this invention is tofprovi'de 'a ree motely adjustable rear view mir-ror, the tilt `of which can be remotely controlled by Aanadjustment which .is within reach of the operator. without leaving the driverisseat and without opening "the vvehicle window.

Another object is to provide avrernotely 4adjustable rear view mirror of the Sioregoing'character wherein the tilting of the mirrorrisfaccomplished by mechanism located immediately behind the 'mirrorr and 'operated by a ileXibleshaf/tvor other motion-transmitting mechanism adjusted` by la control yknob or other control elementi within reach vof the vehicle operator.

Another object 'is toiprovldefa remotely adjustable rear view mirrorv of 'the foregoing'lcharaoter wherein the mirror support is mounted upon a bracket by means 'of Va ball 'and socket joint. and tilted relativelyt'c the bracket by rotatable fingers which are moved to 'and' Ifrofby a flexible shaft extending through the bracket to a knob or other manual control element locatedv within reach of the vehicle driver., such ase, for example1 on the dash or Windshield'post ofthe vehicle.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a central vertical section through the mirror head of a remotely adjustable rear view mirror, according to one form of the invention, taken along the line` I--I in Figure 2;

Figure 2 isan inclined, approximately vertical section taken along the line 2-2 in Figure l, showing the mirror-tilting fingers;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary central vertical section throughthe mirror-tilting ringer mounting shown in sideelevation in thev central portion of Figure 1;

Figure 4;is avertical cross-section taken along the lineV 4,-4 in Figure 3;v

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-section taken along the line 5-5f in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a remotely adjustable rear view mirror, the mirror head of which is shown in Figure 1';

Figure: 7 is an elevational view ofr the mirror shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section taken along the line 8;-8 in Figure 3;

Figure 9 isa centralvertical section through the mirror head ofv a modiiied adjustable rear view mirror, taken along the line, 9-9 in Figure l0;

Figure 10 is an inclinedy approximately vertical section taken along the line I'-In in Figure 9, showing the modied mirroretilting mechanism;

Figure 11 is a frontelevation, in` reduced size of a sprlngada-pted'tobe usedin ay turthermodi fication of the mirror head shown in Figure 9;

.Figure 1'24is fsidefelevation `of the' spring'shown in Figure l1.

Vehicle rear vieur mirrors as hithertomaderh'ave 'ordinarily been mounted inside ther vehicle withreach of the operator orfon -a bracket outside the vehicle window Abeyond the reach of the operator when the Window 'is closed. The. rear view mirrors placed outside the Vehicley give. a ytar `better view Aoftthe road than those placed inrside't-heyvehicle, but fareydiiiicult to adjust, .particularly when the vehicle is in motion andthe window is closed. Nevertheless, changes-inroad and traffic conditions often make it advisable to alter the tilt ofl the mirror vso as to view -a dif'- lferent sectorv of `the road, andthe ordinary externally-mounted rear view mirror; provides 'no means for doing so. Ihe present invention provides an externally mounted rear view mirront-he tilt of. which may be. adjustedy from a `'location remotelfrom the mirror, such as by -aknob .1ocated inside the caber v'on the rdash-or steering post of the vehicle..

Referring to thevdra'wings in detail, Figures 6 and 7 show a remotelyeadjustable rearview mirror, 'generally `designated IIJ, according to one formnf the invention asr consistinggen'erally of 'arbracket II, a mirror head I2 and afmirror head tiltingmecha'nism I3 for tilting the mirror head li2.upon a ballfand-socket joint Mbywhioh it is connected to. the/'bracket I Il.

The bracket |.I `consists of a rbase I5 having a rear surface I6 congured to t the body p0rtion of the vehicle upon which the bracket II is to be mounted. The base I5 has a bore II (Figure 6) through it: and a counterbore vor countersunk portion I8 forming a socket for the inner end of the arcuate tubular arm I9 which supports the ball-and-socket-joint I4 carryingk the mirror head I2. The tubular arm I9 has a bore 2l) through its interior from one end to the other. The outer end of the tubular. arm I9 is externally threaded as at y2I to receive the internallythreaded bore 22 (Figure l) of the tubular shank 23 of the ball element 24. The ball element 524 terminates in the ball portion 25 of the balland-socket joint I4 and the shank-23 is preferably provided with a hexagonal or other polygonal external surface 26 (Figure 6) for receiving. a wrench.A TheA ball 25 is provided with a longitudinal bore 21 communicating with the 'internelly-threadedzbore 22. Y K

The ball-and-socket joint I4 has an annular socket element 28 With a front surface 29 V(Figure 1), the socket element 28 having an internal partially sphericalsurfacei iitting the external spherical surface 3| of the ball portion 25. In

y order toV prevent entry of moisture, thev socket element 28 is. provided with an internal annular groovef32y in which is seated an annular sealing ring 33` of circular cross-section made from elastic deformable material, such as rubber, synthetic arm I9 and through the bore rivets 12.

rubber, resilient synthetic plastic or the like. The socket element 28 is also provided with an internally-threaded bore 34 into which is threaded an annular nut or retaining ring 35 having an externally-threaded portion 36 thereon, and carrying an external iiange 31. The threaded retaining ring 35 is provided with recesses 38 for receiving the pins of a conventional spanner (not shown) by which the retaining ring 35 may be threaded into the threaded bore 34. Optionally, of course, the rim of the nange 31 could be made of polygonal shape, for example hexagonal, to receive a conventional wrench. The threaded retaining ring 35, like the annular socket element 28, has an internal partially spherical surface 39 fitting the ball portion 25.

The mirror head I2 has a shell-like hollow casing 40 of arcuate cross-section with a central annular fiat portion 4I secured to and fitting the front surface 29 of the annular socket element 28, and has an aperture 42 for the passage of the threaded retaining ring 35. The outer edge of the mirror head casing 40 is provided with an annular cylindrical flange 43 (Figure 1) in which a mirror 44 is mounted, with the optional use of a spacing ring 45. The mirror 44 is provided with a reflecting coating 46 of any suitable metal, such as nickel, silver, chromium, aluminum or the like, and may have either fiat surfaces 41 and 48 or convex surfaces, as desired.

The mirror head tilting mechanism I3 by which the mirror head I2 is tilted on the ball-and-socket joint I4 includes a stem or shaft 49 (Figures l and 3) which is rotatably mounted in the bore 21 of the ball portion 25 and has a flanged head 50 retaining it in the unthreaded portion 5I of the threaded bore 22. The shaft 49 is provided with a recess 62 within which is secured the forward end of a conventional flexible wire 53 which passes through a spirally wound tubular housing or casing 54 mounted in a centrally-bored plug 55 secured in the forward end of the bore 20 of the bracket arm I9 (Figure 1). The spirally wound casing 54 containing the flexible wire 43 passes through the bore 20 of the arcuate bracket II of the base I5. The casing 54 at its inner end is secured to a tubular screw 56, the shank of which passes through a hole in the dash 58 or other portion of the automobile adjacent the driver, and is held in place by a threaded retaining ring or nut 59 threaded on the screw 56 on the opposite side of the dash 58. The flexible wire 53 passes through the tubular screw 56 and is secured in a recess 60 in a knob 6I by a set screw 62 or by other means. Thus, by turning the knob 6 I, the operator rotates the flexible wire 53 and the shaft or stem 49 in the bore 21 of the ball portion 25 of the ball-and-socket joint I4.

The shaft or stem 49 is provided with a reduced diameter portion 63 providing an annular abutment shoulder 64, and is also provided with a longitudinal keyway 65 (Figure 3) in which is mounted a short key 66. The key 66 at 61 drivingly engages the hub 68 of an operating blade 69 bored to receive the reduced diameter portion 63 of the shaft 49 (Figure 4). The hub 68 is slotted as at 16 to receive a blade portion 1I of iiexible or spring material, such as spring steel, held in place by any suitable means, such as Projecting in opposite directions from the hub 6B is a pair of stops or bosses 13 and 14. rEhe stops 13 and 14 engage inwardly facing pins 15 and 16 respectively on inner and outer arms or blades 11 and 18 which are bored to be loosely mounted upon the reduced diameter portion 63 of the shaft 49. The blades 11 and 18 and the hub 68 of the blade 69 are spaced apart from one another by washers 19. The washers 19 are held in place between the annular abutment 64 (Figure 3) and the end of the shaft 49 by a washer bored to receive the further reduced diameter portion BI of the end of the shaft 49 which is drilled and threaded as at 82 to receive a retaining screw 83.

The pins 15 and 16 engage opposite sides of the stops or bosses 13 and 14 (Figure 8) so that when the blade 69 is moved in one direction, it carries with it the blade 11 and when it is moved in the opposite direction, it carries with it the blade 18. The blades or arms 69, 11 and 18 are so spaced relatively to one another that they freely pass one another except for their interconnection through the pins 15, 16 and stops 13, 14. The blades 11, 69 and 18 are of slightly different lengths, the blade 11 being slightly shorter and the blade 18 slightly longer than the blade 69 (Figure 2), so that their ends engage slightly different contact circles on the inner wall of the shell or mirror head 40.

In the operation of the invention, let it be assumed that the base I5 of the bracket II has been firmly secured to a body portion or pillar of the vehicle. which has been suitably drilled for the passage of the flexible wire 53 and its casing 54. and that the inner ends of these elements are arranged as shown in the lower portion of Figure 6. Let it also be assumed that the inner and outer blades 11 and 18 are in the same relative positions to the middle or driving blade 69, as shown in Figure 2. If, now, the operator rotates the knob 6I to swing the middle blade 69 to the right (Figure 2), the stop 13 engages the pin 15 on the inner blade 11 and swings it to the right, tilting the mirror head I2 and consequently the mirror 44 to the right. If, on the other hand, the middle blade 69 is swung to the opposite direction, namely to the left, the stop 14 engages the pin 16 and swings the outer blade 18 to the left, tilting the mirror head I2 to the left. In this manner, the mirror head I2 may be tilted to and fro, as desired, merely by manipulating the loose inner and outer blades 11 and 18 by means of the driven blade 69. In order to change the mirror head I2 back to its central position, the knob 6I may be rotated an entire revolution, consequently rotating the shaft 49 an entire revolution, so that the stops 13 and 14 pick up the pins 15 and 16 of the inner and outer blades 11 and 18 and carry them back to their approximate positions shown in Figure 2.

The modified remotely adjustable rear view mirror head, generally designated 98 (Figures 9 and 10) is generally similar to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 and similar parts are designated with similar numerals. In themodifled mirror head 90, the shaft or stem 49 has been elongated as at 9I and provided with an enlargement 92 which is spaced away from the iiattened forward end of the ball portion 25 so that on its forward surface, the enlargement 92 serves as an annular abutment for the rearmost washer 19. The rearward surface of the enlargement 92 serves as an annular abutment for the forward or small end of a conical coil spring 93, the rearward or large end of which abuttingly engages the flange 31 of the annular nut or retaining ring 35 which is provided with an upturned'edge or rim` portion 94 forming a. shallow cup-shaped depression 95 into which the largefonrearward :end of the-spring :S3-nts. The .modified :mirror .hea-d .90 .on :the inside of :its

conical :coil y.spring .93i kin :the mirror head ,9,0 `of .1Eigure .9. v,The .spring I 05..consists .of `thescentral vhub zportion .|06 having a central vhole. ;.|i0| for l'thepassage of the ,'shaft..extension:9:l and hav- Ing fcurved fingers l|i08 'inclined approximately radially outward and rearward from the hub (Figure 12). The Aouter end portions of lthe spring .fingers-tlarebentas at |09 into Aarcuate :shape in 4order .to give asmooth :sliding engage- :ment'iwith the .flange .'31 forming the :bottom rof the .cup-shaped :recess 95 into which the spring Ingers |08 extend.

'The operation ofthe modified mirror headu90 is generally*similar-tothe operation of the mirror head .1|2 previously .described vand the foregong=description.thereof broadly applies. The -conical .coilspring '93 or rits substitute, f the -radial fleaf .spring |05, .urge the shaft-159 outward, consequently urgingthe ball .portion against v,the .sur-facef39 .of the .retaining nut 35 and increasing its frictional .engagement therewith. The "spring 'T93 `or vits substitute :spring .|05 tend itc *restorefthe mirror Aheadil to its central position, Ybut this tendency :is resisted by the fricv'tional engagement between Athe ball portion 2.5 and retaining nut '35. The spring thus tends to v'hold kthe shell 4'0 firmly against the ends of the spring Vblades or arms |00, |.0I and |02 and to eausetheir'pointed tips 9.1,;98 and 99 ,to remain in thefindentations 96a between.thefradial'ridges 96. `'When the spring blade |00 is forcibly swung lby rotating the flexible wire .53 by .means ofthe knob tl (Figure 6),'the pointed tip 91 vthereof is Ymoved over the ridges l96 and indentations 96a to its new position, carrying along with it the .spring blades |0| and |02 in the-manner prey ya vehicle, a mirror support loosely and tiltably `mounted. on said bracket, a mirror mounted on vsaid mirror support, a shaft rotatably mounted insaidbracket, a driving armdrivingly'mounted on said shaft adjacent said mirror support and havingstops thereon, apair of driven arms loosely mounted on said shaft on opposite ysides of said driving arm fand :having contact portions disposed in the paths of travel .of the stops of said driving arm and engageable thereby in responseto the swinging of said driving arm upon irotation of said'shaft, the outer'portionsvof'said -driving iand driven --arm-s being engageable Awith said mirror support -at locations remote from said shaft whereby to tiltsaidmirror support'in response to the swinging of said driving arm, and mechanism-extending from said shaft to a location remotetherefrom forrotatingfsaid shaft.

2. .A remotely-adjustable `rear view mirror comprising a bracket adapted to'be attached to a vehicle, -a mirror vsupport loosely and 4tilta-bly mounted .-on :saijd bracket, `a :mirror mounted said 'fmirror support, a shaft .rotatably mounted 1n said. bracket, a driving arm drivinglymounted on ysaidshaft adjacent said mirror support, v'and having stops thereon, a `pair of driven arms loosely mounted on said Ishaftxon opposite sides :of `said ldriving arm and Vhaving contact-portions .disposed in ythe `paths rof travel of the stops .of'

saidv driving armand engageable thereby in `responsefto thesvvinging of said `drivingarm upon rotation of said shaft, Athe outer portonsfqofffsaid .drivingand driven arms being engageable with :said mirror 4support vat locations remote vfrom .said yshaft whereby to tilt said mirror support Jin-responsetoithefswinging of said drivingarm,

and mechanism extending from said ysl'iaftfto v.a

'. locationfremote therefrom for rotating saidxshaft, .said .contactv portions of ysaid driven :arms comprising projections extending into the paths of 'said` stops` and engageable therewith.

'3. .A remotely-adjustable rear .view mirror -comprisinga 'bracket adapted to be attached to a vehicle, a '.ball-and-socket joint mounted von said bracket and having ai'bore therethrough, a

:mirror support loosely and tiltably mounted on .said Iball-and-socket fjoint, amirror mounted Lon Asaid mirror support, a. shaft rotatably mounted in said vbracket and vextending through said bor-e, `a .driving arm rdrivingly .mounted on lsaid shaft Aadjacent '-.said :mirror support and Vhaving stops thereon, a pair yof ydriven arms rloosely mounted on said shaft ori-opposite sides of said `driving arm .andhaving contact portions disposed inthe paths of travel of .the `Stops of said driving armand engageable therebyv in response to the swinging "of said driving arm'upon rotaytion of said shaft, the outer portions of said driving and driven arms being engageable with said mirror support at locations remote lfrom said shaft whereby vto .tilt said mirror support in 'response to Vthe swinging of said driving arm,

and mechanism extending from said shaft Ato-a location remote therefrom for rotating said shaft.

4. A Aremotely-adjustable rear View mirror comprising a bracketv adapted to be attached to a vehicle, a' hollow mirrorl casing loosely and'tiltably mounted on said'vbracket, a mirror mounted ori-saidy casing, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bracket, a driving member drivingly mounted on Asaid Yshaft and having stops thereon, said drivingmember vand said 4shaft being rotatable relatively to said mirror support and mirror, driven members loosely mounted on said shaft and swingably engageable with the stops'of said drivingmember, the outer portions of said driving and driven members beingengageable withfsa'id mirror casing, and rmechanism extending Afrom vsaid shaft -to a location remote therefrom for-ro- -tatingsaid shaft, said members comprising ilexible yarms `engageable at their outer ends :with Vthe inner surface of said mirror Casing.

5. A remotely-adjustable "rear View mirror comprising a bracket adapted to be "attached to -a vehicle, a hollow-mirror casing having an approximately 'spherical yinner surface, said casing being loosely and tiltably mounted on said bracket, a mirror mounted -on said casing, -a sha-ft rotatably mounted in said bracket, a driving member-drivingly mounted on said shaft and havingv stops thereon, said driving member and said shaftbeing rotatable relatively to saidmirror support and mirror, driven members loosely mounted on said shaft and swingably engage- 'able ywith the stops of -said driving member, the -ou-ter portions .of :saiddrivin'g and driven -members being engageable with said mirror casing, and mechanism extending from sai-d shaft to a location remote therefrom for rotating said shaft, said members being engageable at their outerl ends with said spherical inner surface.

6. A remotely-adjustable rear view mirror comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to a vehicle, a ball-and-socket joint having the ball mounted on said bracket, a mirror support loosely and tiltably mounted on the socket of sai-d balland-socket joint, a mirror mounted on said mirror support, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bracket, a driving member drivingly mounted on said shaft and having stops thereon, driven members loosely mounted on said shaft and swingably engageable with the stops of said driving member, the outer port-ions of said driving and driven members being engageable with said mirror support, mechanism extend-ing from said shaft to a location remote therefrom for rotating said shaft, and a resilient member disposed between said shait and said ball-and-socket joint, said resilient member being arranged to yieldingly urge said ball into said socket.

'1. A remotely-adjustable rear View mirror comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to a vehicle, a ball-and-socket joint having the ball mounted on said bracket, a mirror support loosely and tiltably mounted on the socket of said balland-socket joint, a mirror mounted on said mirror support, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bracket, a driving member drivingly mounted on said shaft and having stops thereon, driven members loosely mounted on said shaft and swingably engageable with the stops of said driving member, the outer portions of said driving and driven members being engageable with said mirror support, mechanism extending from said shaft to a location remote therefrom for rotating said shaft, and a coil spring disposed between said shaft an-d said ball and socket joint, said coil spring being arranged to yieldingly urge said ball into said socket.

8. A remotely-adjustable rear view mirror comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to a vehicle, a ball-and-socket joint having the ball mounted on said bracket, a mirror support loosely and tiltably mounted on the socket of said balland-socket joint, a mirror mounted on said mirror support, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bracket, a driving member drivingly mounted on said shaft and having stops thereon, driven members loosely mounted on said shaft and swingably engageable with the stops of said driving member, the outer portions of said driving and driven members being engageable with said mirror support, mechanism extending from said shaft to a location remote therefrom for rotating said shaft, and a leaf spring disposed between said shaft and said ball-and-socket joint, said leaf spring being arranged to yieldingly urge said ball into said socket.

9. A remotely-adjustable rear view mirror comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to a. vehicle, a ball-and-socket joint having the ball mounted on said bracket, a mirror support loosely and tiltably mounted on the socket of said balland-socket joint, a mirror mounted on said mirror support, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bracket, a driving member drivingly mounted on said shaft and having stops thereon, driven members loosely mounted on said shaft and swingably engageable with the stops of said driving member, the outer portions of said driving and driven members being engageable with said mirror support, mechanism extending from 'said shaft to a location remote therefrom for rotating said shaft, and a leaf spring disposed between said shaft and said ball-and-socket joint, said leaf spring having resilient fingers arranged to yieldingly urge said ball into said socket.

' 1-0. A remotely-adjustable rear View mirror comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to a vehicle, a hollow mirror casing loosely and tiltably mounted on said bracket, a mirror mounted on said casing, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bracket, a driving member drivingly mounted on said shaft and having stops thereon, driven members losely mounted on said shaft and swingably engageable with the stops of said driving member, the outer portions of said driving and driven members being engageable With said mirror casing, and mechanism extending from said shaft to a location remote therefrom for rotating said shaft, said casing having a roughened surface portion on the inner side thereof in the path of the ends of said driving and driven members.

11. A remotely-adjustable rear view mirror comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to a vehicle, a hollow mirror casing loosely and tiltably mounted on said bracket, a mirror mounted on said casing, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bracket, a driving member drivingly mounted on said shaft and having stops thereon, driven members loosely mounted on said shaft and swingably engageable with the stops of said driving member, the outer portions of said driving and driven members being engageable with said mirror casing, and mechanism extending from said shaft to a location remote therefrom for rotating said shaft, said members comprising flexible arms engageable at their outer ends with the inner surface of said mirror casing, said casing having a roughened surface portion on the inner side thereof in the path of the ends of said arms.

12. A remotely-adjustable rear view mirror comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to a vehicle, a hollow mirror casing loosely and tiltably mounted on said bracket, a mirror mounted on said casing, a shaft rotatably mounted in said bracket, a driving member drivingly mounted on said shaft and having stops thereon, driven members loosely mounted on said shaft and swingably engageable with the stops of said driving member, the outer portions of said driving and driven members being engageable with said mirror casing, and mechanism extending from i said shaft to a location remote therefrom for rotating said shaft, said members comprising flexible arms engageable at their outer ends with the inner surface of said mirror casing, said casing having a roughened surface portion on the inner side thereof in the path of the ends of said arms, the ends of said flexible arms having projections engaging said roughened surface portion.

RICHARD L. HIGGINS.

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